The designers and architects featured in this issue talk about how they deal with problems and offer advice on designing your own home.

The room that represents us as a family—the living or great room. It reflects our soul, personality and attitude. Capturing those feelings through the furniture, appointments and art is a challenge. But it’s a shame when you walk into a house and it comes off as a showroom.

What’s the most difficult part about designing for yourself? What’s the best part?

Satisfying yourself. I get to try to capture bits and pieces of what I’ve seen around the world. But as soon as you’re done, you’re ready to start something new and fresh. The challenge is being comfortable with the final product and not wanting to constantly retool it.

Did you use the Internet? What is your favorite online shopping site?

I tend to use the Internet a little less for shopping and more for seeing how odd objects and shapes can amplify the quality of space. I like design Web sites, like Ferrari, Porsche, Jean Nouvel, Calatrava, Yabu Pushelberg.

Did you stay within your budget? Or did you have a budget?

When you’re doing a house for yourself, you have to first and foremost know not only yourself but your spouse and your family and understand that you become emotional about your own house—so you have a budget, and then you have a real budget. You have parameters, and then you have the ultimate parameters. I managed to stay between those two. So I’m pleased with what I was able to achieve with the dollars that I spent.

How does designing your own home change the way you work with clients?

My clients are all around the world; I work for the finest hotel operators, the highest luxury hoteliers and the most profound owners. That gives me a personal understanding of similar issues that a client faces.

How did the current economy affect your design choices, or did it?

No, not at all. The house was designed pre-economic meltdown. So it was completed before that all happened.

Did you incorporate changing technology into your home? If so, what were the challenges and benefits?

I intentionally chose to eliminate it. The world is overrun by technology. We need to find out how to enjoy life without it, to have a personal escape. That was an important consideration as our children grow up, that we want to further our family relationship, and to some degree, this house is a wonderful canvas for that, a tool. Stripping away technology is very healthy.

Were you finally able to try out something your clients were not adventurous enough to allow?

No, not really. I don’t think that I was quirky in any way. I look at myself as a client, just as I do my wife and my children. Our home has to stand the test of time; it’s got to meet the same rigors as the homes we do for clients. I changed the program and developed it in a way that the house speaks to who we are as a family.

Did you arrange your schedule so that you could work exclusively on your home, or did you work on your home between other projects?

I design resorts, and I can see the result pretty quickly and know where we’re headed. What I call the big concept—the arrangement of the elements and rooms, along with the architectural style and attitude—came quickly; the cartoon set, which is the initial set of documents that represent the design intent, came just as quickly; then the details came over time. I draw all the time. If you’re on an airplane 12 or 15 hours, you can accomplish a great deal. The greatest struggle I have is that not only am I an architect, my wife’s an architect, my nephew’s an architect, my children think they’re architects. So it’s about bringing back your decisions and getting somewhat of a buy-in. And that’s the biggest challenge. But all of those architects are very much a part of my life. And then, of course, I’ve got an office with another thousand architects.

What advice would you give those designing their own home for the first time?

To remember that you’re designing not only for yourself but also for your family. Your design should reflect and reinforce your family culture and lifestyle. It should enhance your family’s relationship and present your values. It should be an extension of your family’s personality. Don’t get caught up too much in the architecture but really what the soul of the house is meant for.